The Pistons and Jason Maxiell have reportedly agreed on a $20 million, four-year contract extension, just one day before the deadline.

Maxiell, 25, is in the final year of his contract and decided to stick with Detroit rather then become a free agent after the season.

He averaged 7.9 points on 54 percent shooting along with 5.3 rebounds, 1.2 blocks in 21.5 minutes per game last season.

The Pistons and forward Jason Maxiell agreed on a $20M, four-year contract extension on Thursday, a basketball official told The Associated Press, on the condition of anonymity because the deal had not been signed.

Pistons GM Joe Dumars will have quite a few decisions to make in the near future with Jason Maxiell, Richard Hamilton, Amir Johnson and Tayshaun Prince all possessing the power to hit the free agent market soon.

Maxiell turned down a three-year, $15 million extension from the team this summer.

Hamilton can opt out of his contract at the end of this season, and the Pistons may or may not want to give him an extension.

Johnson will become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2010, as will Prince.

Dumars will also have to decide whether to extend the contracts of Arron Afflalo and Rodney Stuckey.

Pistons' coach Michael Curry would like forward Tayshaun Prince to be more assertive on the offensive end this season.

"I expect Tayshaun to be an All-Star," Curry said. "He's been playing at that level and by taking Antonio McDyess out of the starting lineup allows more things to be run for Tay; it's one less guy we have to worry about getting shots for.

"That and the way we want to run and play this season should produce more opportunities for Tayshaun."

Detroit's new head coach expects Prince to shoot, score, and distribute more this season.

"I told Tay, we want more out of him," Curry said. "We want him to handle the ball more and make decisions. We want him to post more and score more. We are asking a lot of out Tay and in return we are asking him to help us help put him in positions where he can be aggressive and use all of his skills."

Pistons' coach Michael Curry believes that his team is giving up too much in the paint to opposing teams.

"We got some more work to do," Curry said after the team's 88-87 loss to the Hawks on Thursday night. "That's what we take from tonight's game."

Atlanta outscored Detroit 54-32 in the paint.

"Fifty-four points in the paint, I don't care what we're playing; that's unacceptable for how we're going to play basketball," Curry said. "That just shows that we have some more work to do."

Pistons' forward Walter Herrmann returned to practice for the team on Sunday after being sidelined with a rib injury.

"He was a little rusty, and he was a little off on some of our coverages," Coach Michael Curry said of Herrmann. "But we will clean that up. He's a smart player. We may not get all the rust off right away, but he will be on point when it comes to our coverages."

Jason Maxiell will not sign a contract extension with the Pistons by the Oct. 31 deadline, meaning that he will become a restricted free agent next summer.

"(The team has) expressed that he is a major contributor to their success," agent Richard Katz said Friday. "What we differ about on, is what that is worth."

Detroit offered the forward a three-year deal worth $15 million, with a team option for a fourth season.

"He loves it in Detroit and is very comfortable," Katz said. "We'll just have to see how all this plays out."

If Maxiell has a big season, he could land a more lucrative offer with another team.

Pistons' Coach Michael Curry believes that their current break in the exhibition schedule will help the team a great deal.

Detroit will not play another preseason game until Wednesday when they battle Cleveland to home.

"I love the practice time," Curry said Friday. "I'll take that kind of practice schedule anytime. Anytime we can get practice time, we're going to get better."

The Pistons are 5-1 in preseason play this month.

Chauncey Billups sent a message that he is still the man in Detroit when the game is on the line, the Detroit News is reporting.

Billups scored 8 points in the final 2 1/2 minutes to trigger the Pistons' 85-81 comeback exhibition victory over the Mavericks at The Palace on Thursday.

"Listen, when it gets to crunch time, I am going to have the ball, and I am going to be initiating sets," Billups said Friday. "That's just how it's going to be, and it's not just me saying that; it's everybody saying it."

Detroit guard Chauncey Billups will not be in uniform when the Pistons take on San Antonio at Grand Rapids on Tuesday night, the Detroit News is reporting.

Billups suffered a sprained right ankle during the Pistons' victory at Milwaukee on Saturday.